Stars have agreed to a five-year contract extension with Jamie Benn for $5.25 million per season

Dallas Morning News | Jan 25

The Stars just announced during the Blackhawks game that they have signed center Jamie Benn to a five-year contract extension for an average of $5.25 million per season.

Benn boarded a plane to Dallas Thursday night. There are some immigration issues that still need to be worked out, making him unavailable for Saturday's game against St. Louis. The Stars hope he'll be ready to play Monday when the team travels to Columbus.

Here are a couple fo quotes from Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk:

"It's really big. We know how important he is to our hockey club. It's good for our hockey club. It's great for Jamie. He needs to be back in that locker room with his teammates and tomorrow he will be."

"Everybody wanted what was best for Jamie and for our hockey club and that was to have him back with the guys. I couldn't be happier. I see how hard our team battles here in the first 3 1/2 games of the season, and to add a player like him to the mix is going to be really good for our club."

Here is the press release:

Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced today that the club has agreed to terms with center Jamie Benn to a five-year, $26.25 million contract ($5.25 million per year — the first year of the deal is pro-rated).

Benn is entering his fourth NHL season, all as a member of the Stars. Last season, the 23-year-old had a career year, setting personal bests in goals (26), assists (37) and points (63). He led the club in game-winning goals (7), multi-goal games (5) and was second in shots (203). Benn was also selected to his first NHL All-Star Game, where he took home the accuracy shooting title during the Superskills Competition.

"Jamie Benn has proven in his short, but very productive NHL career, that he is not only this franchise's cornerstone player, but also an emerging superstar in the league," said General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk. "We believe that Jamie has the necessary tools to continue his growth and lead this team into the next great era of Dallas Stars hockey."